The 14th edition of the Rencontres de Bamako – African Biennial of Photography has crowned Ethiopian artist Maheder Haileselassie Tadesse with the prestigious Seydou Keita Grand Prize. Her evocative photographic series, Between Yesterday and Tomorrow, captivated audiences and jurors alike with its profound exploration of memory, identity, and the interplay between colonialism and modernity.

A Profound Reflection of History and Identity

Tadesse’s work intricately weaves Ethiopia’s rich 3,000-year-old heritage into a dialogue that juxtaposes archival colonial-era images with personal family photographs. This dual narrative highlights Ethiopia’s resistance to foreign domination while celebrating its enduring cultural pride. Through this series, Tadesse invites viewers to confront how historical events shape collective consciousness, reclaiming narratives often overlooked or distorted in traditional historical accounts.

The artist’s innovative approach to photography transforms personal and collective memory into a medium for reclaiming history. By merging Ethiopia’s past and present, Tadesse delivers a nuanced perspective on resilience, positioning her as a leading voice in contemporary African photography.

Recognizing Emerging African Voices

The Biennial also honored several other artists for their groundbreaking contributions to African photography:

• Bisi Silva Award: Wilfried Vanie, known as Willow Evann, received this accolade for Les Tirailleurs, a tribute to African soldiers from French colonies who fought in the World Wars. Evann’s work, engraved on wood, powerfully commemorates these soldiers’ sacrifices and challenges the historical erasure of their contributions.
• Third Prize: Nigerian photographer Victor Adewale was recognized for Ẹbí Ọlọ́kadà, a poignant exploration of Lagos’ motorcycle taxi riders. Through portraiture and sculptural installations, Adewale documents the challenges faced by this marginalized community, highlighting themes of resilience and socio-political survival.

Honorable Mentions: Amplifying Diverse Narratives

The Biennial extended honorable mentions to several other talented artists:

• Seyba Keita: Her work delves into the silenced voices of Malinké women, challenging cultural norms that suppress female perspectives.
• Dior Thiam: Wandering Desert Traces reflects on impermanence and the passage of time through poetic imagery of the desert.
• John Moussa Kalapo: Résistance à l’Oubli captures the enduring spirit of Mali’s people amidst ethnic and political turmoil.

Other noteworthy contributions included Mounir Fatmi’s Calligraphy of Fire, Myles Igwe’s Ndi Nwanyi, and a powerful display of visual storytelling by Dior Thiam and John Moussa Kalapo.

A Platform for Cultural Reflection and Change

This year’s Rencontres de Bamako reaffirmed the power of African photography to interrogate the past, document the present, and envision transformative futures. Through their innovative works, the featured artists collectively showcased photography as a critical tool for cultural reflection and social change.

The 14th edition of the Biennial not only celebrated individual creativity but also emphasized the importance of preserving and reshaping African narratives in global discourse.